Preventing Colon Cancer with Colonoscopies
Colon cancer can be easily prevented, yet it remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Colon cancer screening tests identify suspicious or pre-cancerous polyps, which can be removed before they develop into a serious health problem.
Margie Sommers, formerly of Wadena and now of Mesa, Arizona, agrees having colonoscopies is a great choice in preventing colon cancer. She still returns to Veterans Memorial Hospital to have her colonoscopy and states, “A Colonoscopy is the one test you can easily do to find the polyps, remove them and prevent cancer, so we just need to do it! I know some people that have not had it done or waited too long. It’s just such a great thing to do to be able to prevent cancer.”
Both men and women are at risk for colon cancer. Personal risk varies, so your local medical practitioner can help you make informed decisions about when to begin testing and the most appropriate testing method for you.
“Everyone is so organized there and the surgeon, Dr. Yee is wonderful,” adds Margie, who was encouraged by family to come as far as Waukon by family members to have her colonoscopy. “I am so confident in him, thank goodness, because I did have seven polyps that he found and removed. The entire staff make you feel at ease.”
Preventing colon cancer altogether through testing is the ideal outcome, but early detection of the disease also yields important health benefits. Nationally, people whose colon cancers are found at an early stage through testing have five-year survival rates of 90%. However, only 37% of colon cancers are detected in the earliest stages. Of those whose cancers are found at late stage, the five-year survival rate is less than 10%.
Factors associated with increased risk for colon cancer include:
- Age—most diagnosed are 50 or older
- Race—African Americans are at greater risk
- Personal or family history of colon cancer
- Personal or family history of intestinal polyps
- Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative or Crohn’s colitis)
- Certain genetic factors (familial adenomatous polyposis, Gardner’s syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, Ashkenazi Jewish descent)
- Smoking or use of other tobacco products
- Physical inactivity
- Diets high in red meat
Colonoscopies are a very thorough colon cancer test and are performed routinely in the Veterans Memorial Hospital surgical suite and typically take just three hours from start to finish. They are offered along with general surgery three days per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, making scheduling of colonoscopies very accessible. For questions concerning your own health and risk of colon disease, please seek advice from your local family practice physician.
